Prom night pretty typical for these buddies

LAS FLORES – Royce Rashidi made sure his fake mustache didn't fall off as he walked toward the center of the gym at Tesoro High School.

The 17-year-old Tesoro High student posed for a girl taking a photo and gave her a high-five. When Rashidi got to center court, he showed off his Running Man moves and twirled, fluttering his golden tie and jacket.

His mother, Kim, beamed at her son from across the gym.

"He's just natural," Kim Rashidi said. "He practices at home. He's a happy kid. He loves to dance and sing."

Royce Rashidi was among dozens of special education students who participated in Tesoro High's first Spring Fling Dance on Friday and got a taste of a prom night. More than 100 students, teachers, family members and friends enjoyed pasta dinner, club music and dancing hosted by the school's Best Buddies program, which pairs typical students with those who have physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities so they can have similar social experiences.

"Our kids don't have many friends compared to their typical peers," said Kim Rashidi, whose son has autism. "It's nice that they come out here and hang out with other kids."

In past years, students from Tesoro traveled to campuses elsewhere in the county to attend such prom-style events.

"This year, we decided to do it so that schools near us can participate in it," said Samantha Lima, president of Best Buddies at Tesoro. Students from San Clemente, Dana Hills and Trabuco Hills high schools also attended Friday's event.

Kylie Leggett, a junior at Tesoro, organized the event as Tesoro Best Buddies' party planning officer. Leggett, 17, attended the party with Kendal Rose, who has cerebral palsy.

Leggett said she didn't have many friends until she joined the Best Buddies program in her freshman year. It has changed her life, she said. She said she has been moved by how the smallest things make her friends happy.

"I've changed immensely," Leggett said. "I have grown to be way more patient and my heart has gotten bigger. I'm not nervous talking in front of people. I've become so much nicer to other people."

She plans to become a special education teacher.

"Because I've grown up working with them throughout high school, I can't picture my life any differently," Leggett said. "They teach me new things almost every single day."